Escritor / Qillqaq: The Representation of Peruvian Literature in the Spanish and Quechua Wikipedias

Abstract

This paper explores the construction of Peruvian literature in two different language editions of Wikipedia: Spanish and Quechua. Comparing both versions I analyze the way they approach the representation and writing of a national literature in relation to two factors: region (writers from the 25 Peruvian political regions) and language (words used to provide information about writers). I argue that the exclusion of cultural contributions of Amazonian regions in both Wikipedias not only has a high correlation with the regional population and Gross Domestic Product, but also reproduces a traditional notion of Peruvian literature. However, because of its accessibility and collaborative nature, the Quechua Wikipedia innovates by enabling the user community to propose an alternative representation of national literature. The research also demonstrates the urgency of engaging and fostering the participation of indigenous communities in the creation and editing of Wikipedia.